Fence-wire clamp.



PATENTBD Nov. 6, 1906.

W. H. HAMPTON.v FENCE WIRE CLAMP. I

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W. H. HAMPTON. FENCE WIRE CLAMP.A

APPLIOATI FILED KAY 0, 1806.

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WILLIS H. HAMPTON, OF CANASERAGA, NEW YORK.

FENCE-WIRE CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nom-f6, 1906.

Application filed May 29, 1906. Serial No. 319,396.

.To aZ whom it `may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIS HAMPTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oanaseraga, inthe county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful `Improvements in Fence-Wire Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fence-wire clamps for clamping a series of lwires and stretching the same preparatory to fastening to the fence-post.

The primary object of this invention is the construction of a simple, light, strong, and inexpensive clamp whereby the several wires -in the height of a fence may be stretched simultaneously and to the same extent.

Other objects are to provide an improved locking device which is positive in action, possesses greater power and retains the clamping members in proper position, and to otherwise improve on wire clamps now inuse.

Withlthese objects in view the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of my improved wire clamp, showing kthe manner of using the same, the apparatus .being applied to `the wires preparatory to clamping. l Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation of the same, the lower end of one of the clamping members being shown in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of the iixed clamping member, showing the uppermost clevisguide. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached. per- -spective view of one ofthe clevis-guides.

; vice being omitted. A Fig. 13 is a central ver-p Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper end of the fixed clamping member, the uppermost cleviseguide being removed .to show the transverse groove in which it'fits. Fig. 7 isa detached perspective view of one of the U- shaped clevises and its end bar. Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of one of the Abrackets on the fixed clamping member. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detached perspective view of one of the angle lock-levers.

Fig. 10 is a detached perspective view of the manipulating angle lock-lever. Fig. 11 is a central vertical section of the upper portion of a fence-clamp, showing my invention in modiiiedform. Fig. l2l is a transverse section taken on line l2 12, Fig. 11, the locking detical section of thev upper portion of a fenceclamp in another modified form. Fig. 14 is a rear elevation of the movable clamping member shown in Fi 13. Fig. l5 is a fragmentary view of a ence-clamp, showing a still further modiiied form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, corresponding letters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.

The reference-letter A designates the fixed clamping member of the fence-wire clamp, and A/ the movable and removable clamping member. Member A has at its lower end a metallic rearwardly-extending support a on which the movable clamping member rests. Said ixed member has on its inner or rear face several pairs of transverse grooves B, which are adapted to receive wire-guides b in the form of elongated loops having their ends bent inward, as at b', to be driven into member A, said guides having their ends extending beyond the sides of said member for a purpose to appear hereinafter.-

Brackets O are aflixed to the outer or front face of the xed clamping member, and pivotally secured to each bracket is one arm of `the extending portions of guides b, the free ends of said clevises being provided with shoulders q2 and the extremities thereof threaded, as a't g3. The threaded extrem ties of said clevises are passed through apertured cross-bars H, which latter are secured to said clevises by securing-nuts h. VThe movable and removable clamping member is confined at the sides by the side arms g of the clevises and at the rear and front by cross-bars H and fixed clamping member A,

respectively.

For'the purpose of straining or stretching 'the wires a chain I is aflixed to the fixed clamping member A, nearone end thereof, a short chain J being also provided, which is affixed at one end near the other end of said clamping member and which has at its other end a hook K for detachable connection with IOO IIO

the chain I. B y engaginghook Kin a suitable link in chain I, which varies with the position of pulling Jforce, an even strain can be produced throughout the height of the fence by any device adapted to stretching. By means of this arrangement the line of direct strain on the chain can be conveniently changed at will to bring it to the center of resistance. Therefore in building a fence along an uneven surface the point of connec-A bars of the clevises, thereby greatly increasing the strength of the device where most.

strainis applied.

lock-levers being in a plane above the pivotal points of connection to the fixed clamping member. In clamping the wires the manipulating-lever F is taken hold of and forced downward, thereby causing rod E to swing the several lock-levers downward also until the pivotal connections of the clevises thereto are in a plane below the points of connection of said levers to member A, in which position the levers are locked by reason of their having passed the dead-center. Therefore unclamping of the wires can only be brought about by exerting upward force against the manipulating-lever to swing the points of connection of the clevises to the lock-levers above the dead-center. When swinging the lock-levers down in the act of clamping the wires, the clevises are drawn forward, the front ends moving downward as well. When clamping begins, the points of connection of the clevises to rock-levers are moving nearly perpendicular with a small horizontal component and are exerting their maximum power at the moment said points of connection pass the dead-centers. As the points of connection passdown below the dead-centers the rear ends move upward slightly, the guides for the clevises acting as fulcrums for the same, thereby positively locking each and every clevis in a clamped condition.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1] and l2 the movable clamping member A is shown as constructed of two pieces M M, separated by an intervening space m and having inwardly-beveled faces m. Bolts N are passed through member A and through separators N', held between the two parts M M', thumbnuts fn, or other suitable nuts being applied to the threaded end of said bolts to draw the two parts together. The fixed clamping member A has apertures O, through which hook-levers L are passed, which have their hooked ends Z in engagement with separators N and their opposite ends pivotally connected to the angles of the lock-levers D. A downward-pulling action on the rod E will cause the movable member A to be drawn toward the fixed member to securely clamp the strands of wire between the two members. The inner face of member A is beveled from the longitudinal center outwardly, as at o, to correspond to the bevel of clamping member A. On drawing the two parts of member A together the wire-receiving space o between the clamping members is diminished in size.

In the modification shown in Figs. 13 and 14 the movable clamping member is provided with apertures l), having a reduced upper portion p, and its outer face beveled on opposite sides of said reduced portion, as at p.

l Clamping-bolts R are pivotally connected to In Fig. 1 of the drawings the device is shown applied to the strands of fence-wire: preparatory to clamping, the angle of thel the angle of the lock-levers D and at their free or rear ends have a washer r and nut 1" applied thereto. In applying the clampingbolts to the movable clamping member they are passed through the wide lower portions of the apertures, then drawn up into the narrow or reduced portion p, after which the nuts are tightened.

In the'modification shown in Fig. 15 the lock-lever is straight, the connection of rod E and the clevises being coincident at the outer end of said levers, as at S,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A fence-wire clamp comprising two clamping members, lock-levers secured to one of said members, a clevis secured to each of said lock-levers and guided for movement on said last-mentioned member and einbracing the other member, and means for actuating said lock-levers to cause the strand of wire to be clamped between said members.

2. A fence-wire clamp comprising a fixed clamping member, a movable clam )ing member, brackets secured to said ixed clamping member, a lever pivotally secured to each bracket, clevises movable on the fixed clamping member and connected to said lock-levers, said clevises embracing the movable clamping member, and a rod connecting said lock-levers to cause the same to act in unison.

3. A fence-wire clamp comprising a fixed clamping member, a movable clamping member, brackets secured to said -fixed clamping member, an' angle lock-lever pivotally connected to each of said brackets, U-shaped clevises passing through said leeklevers and guided for lengthwise movement of the fixed clamping member, a bar connecting the free ends of each of said clevises and bearing against the movable clamping member, and a rod connecting said locklevers to cause the same to act in unison:

4. A fence-wire clamp comprising a fixed IOO IIO

' each clamping member, a movable clamping member, brackets secured to said fixed clamping member, an angle lock-lever for each bracket having the end of one arm pivotally connected therewith, a rod having connection withvthe ends of the other arms of said lock-levers, U-shaped clevises assing through said lock-levers at the angles t ereof, a bar connecting the free ends of said clevises and bearing'against the movable clam ing member,and guides for said clevises a ed to the fixed clamping member.

5. A fence-wire clamp comprising a fixed clamping member, a movable clam ing member, `brackets secured to said ed clam ing member, an angle lock-lever for bracket having the end of one arm pivotally connected therewith, a rod having connec'tion with the ends of the other arms of said lockelevers, U-shaped clevises passing through said lock-levers at the angles thereof, a bar connecting the free ends of said clevises and bearing against the movable clamping member, the oints of connection of said clevises to the ook-levers being in planes respectively `above and below the points of connection of said levers to the brackets when in unclamped and clamped condition, and guides for said clevises affixed to the fixed clamping member. A

6. A fence-wire clamp comprising a fixed clam ing member, a movable clamping mem er, clevises surrounding said clamping member, means for moving said clevises lengthwise'to cause the movable clamping member to be moved toward and from the xed clamping member, and guides for said i clevises secured to the fixed clamping member and consisting each of a wire loop having laterally-extending pointed ends driven into the said fixed clamping member, said loops having the ends thereof extending beyond Aclamping member, each loop having the sides thereofl fitting into a air of the transverse grooves in the fixed c amping member and having pointed ends to be driven into said member, clevises surrounding said clamping members and guided for lengthwise movement in said guides, and means for moving said clevises lengthwise to causethe movable clamping member to be moved toward and from vthe fixed clamping member to clamp the strands of wire between the two.

8. A fence-Wire clamp comprising two clamping members, a chain secured near one end of one of said clamping members, and a second chain secured at one end nearthe other end of said clamping member and having detachable connection at its other end with the first-mentioned chain so as to permit of connection with the latter 'at different points in the length thereof.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

wILLIs H. HAMPTON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES L. WHEELER, OSCAR E. SHAY. 

